NBC's Myers, Others Face Leak Probe

December 17, 2007

By JUSTIN ROOD REPORTS:

A man convicted of bribing former U.S. Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham hopes to force reporters to reveal how they obtained secret information relating to the federal investigation and prosecution which targeted him.

The lawyer for former defense contractor Brent Wilkes asked a federal judge late last week to approve subpoenas for NBC investigative correspondent Lisa Myers, former Associated Press reporter Seth Hettena, the Wall Street Journal's Scot Paltrow and Associated Press reporter Allison Hoffman, all of whom reported on the Wilkes case.

A jury convicted Wilkes of bribery, conspiracy and fraud earlier this month. Cunningham, now in prison, told investigators Wilkes had bribed him with gifts and cash worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wilkes has steadfastly maintained his innocence.

Geragos has said news stories based on the alleged grand jury leaks prejudiced the jury against his client, and he plans to appeal Wilkes' conviction.

In his Nov. 21 filing, Wilkes' lawyer, Mark Geragos, also asked the judge to force testimony by two FBI agents involved in the Wilkes investigation, two former defense attorneys for Wilkes and current and former members of the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, including former U.S. attorney Carol Lam, who worked on his client's prosecution.

The North County (Calif.) Times, which first reported the news, said none of Geragos' desired subpoena recipients were available for comment. Judge Larry Burns is slated to hear arguments on the alleged grand jury leaks on Dec. 11, the paper reported.